Real Vampires and the Viking

by Gerry Bartlett

  “What you did was a purely selfless act. And now I think you have feelings for him. Not just because he is handsome, but because he is kind and cares for you.”

  “So he says.” She stared into the fire. “What is to become of him? He will never find his treasure. After all this time?”

  “We must at least help him look for it. Who knows? Maybe we will get lucky.” I got up and took our empties to the kitchen sink to rinse them out, tossing them into her recycle bin. “I hear them coming back. I don’t know what you want to do with him, but I feel some responsibility for Gunnar. We did find him in the ice.”

  “Yes. Thank God for that. You’re right. It is refreshing to have a kind man care for me. Fredrick hasn’t for a long, long time.” Gretchen got up and slipped on her coat then picked up her cell phone off the coffee table. She slipped it into her pocket. “Shall we go out to meet them?”

  The guys assured us that they were fully recovered from their encounter with the Eliminator and had even done a quick test outside to see if they could shift. To everyone’s relief, they were all systems go. Even Jerry’s knuckles looked better after a second bottle of synthetic.

  Jerry and Gunnar had lowered the small speedboat into the water and we all managed to fit into it. The water was choppy and there was an icy wind that took my breath but at least the lake hadn’t frozen. There were navigation lights on the shore of the island and a clear night made it a simple thing to find our way to Birka. Good vampire vision and an almost full moon helped too. Gunnar pushed Jerry aside as soon as we left the dock and took the wheel.

  “You can take care of that engine thing, Jeremiah. I will steer.” Gunnar was practically jumping out of the boat with excitement. The fact that this boat used a motor fascinated him. But we could all tell that he was a seaman through and through. He stood behind the wheel as if he’d done it all his life, steering us around buoys and through a channel until we came to a rocky harbor.

  “Let me slow it down now, Gunnar. You have no idea how to handle a throttle.” It was Jerry’s turn to take over and he wasn’t taking no for an answer. Gunnar didn’t argue. He was looking up at the rocky cliffs in dismay.

  “Odin save me but this is different from what I remember,” Gunnar muttered under his breath as he helped Jerry avoid the rocks and abandoned boats to find a place where we could dock. “There was once a town at the top of the cliff, many houses made of wood.”

  “Birka was abandoned centuries ago, Gunnar.” Gretchen rested her hand on his arm. “It won’t be anything like you remember. There’s a museum, but we’re late enough that it will be closed.”

  We landed at a pier and the men tied up the boat next to a wooden walkway. There were stone stairs cut into the side of the cliff with a sign pointing the way. A sign in several languages, including English, let us know that we could walk up to the top and visit that museum and the remnants of a Viking village.

  “Let’s go see what they’ve done.” I needed Jerry’s help climbing out of the rocking boat and waited for Gretchen to join me. We were very afraid that Gunnar was going to be disappointed but he strode off in front of us, a man with a mission.

  “He should lead the way. Yes, the island has changed but maybe what he’s looking for is still here.” Jerry stayed at our backs, I guess in case one of us stumbled.

  “I don’t suppose we could use a flashlight.” I could see but it was pretty dark and I had to watch my step as we got higher up the cliff. One wrong move and I could go plunging off the side. Would it have killed them to install handrails? The water would break my fall but I didn’t look forward to an ice bath.

  “There’s bound to be some security here.” Jerry put his hand on my elbow. “Stay quiet. It’s best not to draw attention.”

  Gretchen hurried to catch up to Gunnar and hissed at him. “Would you slow down and be careful? I told you, things are different here now.”

  He stopped at the top of the cliff and looked around. “Yes, I can see that.” His shoulders slumped. “I expected…” He shook his head. “Det gör mig galen.”

  “What did he say, Jerry?” I whispered.

  “He said it makes him crazy.” Jerry stepped up to Gunnar and squeezed his shoulder. “I understand. But take a moment. Get your bearings. Look for landmarks. Where did you hide your coin?”

  “In a grave. A special one. Far from the center of the village.” Gunnar nodded and took off again. “Yes, I think I can find it. If grave robbers have not beat me to it. Tack, Jeremiah.”

  “Grave robbers. Yes, that’s been a problem here. For centuries.” Gretchen looked stricken.

  “It’s the same everywhere.” I hurried to keep up with Gunnar whose long legs made that difficult. “Gunnar, wait up.”

  “Stopp! Vi är stangda!” The voice came out of the darkness.

  I didn’t move and neither did Gretchen or Jerry. Gunnar disappeared and I hoped the man in the uniform hadn’t seen him. Gretchen answered the man in rapid Swedish. I guess she was weaving a story.

  “I told him you were my American friends. That you thought you’d left your purse here when we came to tour the museum today, Gloriana.” Gretchen took my arm. “He’s agreed to let us look inside, to see if it’s there. I let him know you have a plane to catch and can’t leave without your passport.”

  “Clever girl.” I whispered.

  Jerry walked up to the man, pressing a large bill into his hand and obviously thanking him profusely. Jer always had money in his pockets and, surprisingly, Fredrick hadn’t taken it from him. I’d crammed my cell into my pocket, along with my lipstick of course. Gretchen had loaned me a flattering color.

  We stopped at the large wooden building and waited while the security guard unlocked the door. He flipped on lights and allowed us a few minutes to pretend to search. It was a fascinating place and I was sure Gunnar would have loved it. Viking figures stood in vignettes in front of small wooden houses or holding swords. They looked much like Gunnar had when he’d fallen out of the ice except that they were wearing complete outfits, including furs. Some had swords strapped on their backs.

  Jerry had left his sword in Gretchen’s cabin but had found some knives there to his liking and had them on him of course. Gretchen had the Eliminator under her coat but it was unplugged, the activator in her pocket.

  My phone rang. I dug it out and saw Jerry’s number before I answered.

  “Pretend you’re getting a call saying that your passport was found at a restaurant where we ate lunch. Got it?” He was whispering, out of sight of the guard who had chosen to trail Gretchen and me as we looked around the ladies restroom and snack bar area.

  “Oh, thank you! What a relief!” I ended the call, turned to the guard and explained the call. “Thank you so much for allowing us to look for it here.” I shook his hand. “You have such a wonderful job, guarding these Viking treasures.”

  He answered me in halting English with a smile. “So many old things we find. Look at the bowl there. Very old. A real treasure as you say.”

  “Treasure?” The voice boomed from the darkness. “Is this man saying he has my treasure?” Gunnar strode into view, his sword in his hand. “Tell me where it is and I might spare your life, tjuv.”

  “Oh, shit.” I jumped in front of the guard who was thumbing his two-way radio. “Give me that.” I snatched the radio before the guard could send a message and looked into his eyes. He was frozen in place before he could say a word.

  “Gloriana! How did you do that?” Gretchen stared at me open-mouthed when it was clear the guard couldn’t move a muscle.

  “Long story.” I heard the radio squawk in my hand.

  “Rolf, vad händer?

  Jerry snatched the radio out of my hand. “Inga problem. Tappede min radio.”

  There was laughter and a comment before the radio went silent again.

  “What did you say?” I had to admire the way Jerry had sounded like the guard.

  “Just that there was no problem. I’d dropped my r
adio.” Jerry shook his head. “Gunnar, the guard does not have your treasure, put the sword away.”

  “I heard him.” Gunnar looked ready for action.

  “He thinks anything old from Viking times is a treasure.” I stayed in front of the guard protectively.

  “Obviously you didn’t find what you were looking for.” Gretchen approached Gunnar. “Put away the sword.”

  “The graves have been disturbed but I am not finished searching. There is so much change. The black dirt is thicker now. I need tools.” Gunnar’s eyes lit up when he saw the displays of Viking life. “Ah, just what I need.” He grabbed a sharp pointed staff and what looked like a primitive shovel. “Jeremiah, get another one and we dig. Are you with me?”

  “Yes, of course. But how deep can we go with these things?” He gestured at photographs the archaeological society had posted. “The people who have worked this site used backhoes, machinery.”

  “I know not what those may be, but I can put my back into this and dig a fine hole. If you are too weak, mayhap one of the ladies will take over for you.” Gunnar grinned, showing that he was merely goading Jerry into helping.

  “I can dig.” I grabbed a tool. “I’m sure Gretchen can too. Let’s just get on with it.”

  “What about him?” Gretchen pointed at the guard who was still standing exactly as I’d left him.

  “He will be fine until we’re ready to leave. Then I’ll thaw him out and order him to forget that he ever saw us. Okay?” I smiled and stalked toward the door with my primitive shovel over my shoulder.

  “I suppose. But I want to hear this long story as soon as we’re back at the cabin.” Gretchen picked out what looked like a hoe and followed me.

  “All right. With all four of us digging, maybe we can find Gunnar’s treasure.” Jerry grabbed a tool. “I just hope like hell that grave robbers didn’t beat you to it, Viking.”

  “It cannot be. I have prayed to Freya and know it cannot be.” He glanced at Gretchen. “If I am to live in this time and place, I must have gold.” He turned and straightened his shoulders. “So we will find it.” He marched off like he was going into battle.

  We all exchanged looks then went after him. What he’d said was merely the truth. Freya? Okay, so maybe Gunnar wasn’t Christian. I smiled at Gretchen. She would certainly have her hands full if she decided to have him long term.

  Chapter Seven

  We dug for hours. It was a good thing the Northern Lights were so beautiful and bright. The black earth as Gunnar called it was deep but not hard or frozen solid thanks to what Gretchen assured us was a mild winter. Could have fooled me. If she wanted to see a mild winter, she should come to Texas. I invited her to visit while we were taking turns digging until our muscles quivered.

  Gunnar had carefully selected a sunken area after looking at various landmarks. He swore this was where one of the ancient kings of Sweden had buried his favorite mistress. We worked quietly, aware of other security guards on the island. Jerry checked a few times on our frozen guard but it seemed the men on patrol didn’t report to each other on a regular basis. No alarm went off and no flashlights were seen scanning our section of the island.

  It was cold, so cold. And of course there was the ice and snow to contend with. Even with heavy coats and gloves and my vampire senses that usually protected me from feeling too much from the weather, I was absolutely miserable.

  “I see the stone! The door to the tomb!” Gunnar grabbed Gretchen and kissed her. “Look, there is her name, carved on the door.”

  “Astrid? That’s who you’ve been talking about?” Gretchen wiped the dirt away from the carving. “I have heard her story. The king adored her but his wife hated her. Some say his wife poisoned the king because he loved his mistress more than his wife.” She turned to Gunnar. “You were very clever to hide your fortune here. Everyone knows Helga cleaned out the tomb even before her husband’s body was cold. It is a famous story. There are even songs about it.”

  “We shall soon see if I am so clever.” Gunnar looked serious as he nodded to Jerry. “Will you help me move this? It will be hard work.”

  “I can’t wait.” Jerry put his shoulder to it and between the two of them the stone slowly rolled aside. . . but not enough.

  “I cannot look or begin to fit. Can you squeeze inside and see…” Gunnar touched Gretchen’s face. “If I have wasted our time?”

  “Here.” I turned on my phone’s flashlight and handed it to her. “Watch your step. I don’t know how these tombs are laid out. Try not to trip on bones.”

  “I’ll be careful.” Gretchen smiled. “And, Gunnar, pray to my Christian god that your gold will be there. Where exactly did you hide it?”

  “She had a bed of stone and was laid upon it. I piled rocks at the head of the bed. My fortune is under the pile in two hide sacks. There are many gold and silver coins so they should be heavy.” Gunnar pulled Gretchen into his arms and kissed her with his heart in it. “Yes, I’ll pray to your god. Now find my treasure, beautiful woman.”

  Gretchen was flushed as she wiped her eyes, smearing dirt across her cheek. Then she turned and squeezed through the entrance. We could see the faint glow of the flashlight moving around as she walked inside.

  “How big is this tomb?” I sat right where I was, in the dirt and snow. We’d been digging in a hillside. It had been a surprise to find a cave with a rock in front of it after pushing aside so much dirt. I turned and saw the dark water behind us. Lights bobbed on the surface. Some were buoys marking a channel but one was moving fast, a boat headed toward the island. At this time of night? Surely we hadn’t been followed. None of us had mentioned Birka to Fredrick but that didn’t mean he hadn’t read it in Gretchen’s mind.

  “Not so big. I’m hoping it’s taking a while because she is moving rocks.” Gunnar paced in front of the opening, trying to peer inside. “I cannot see her.”

  “Jerry, look out there, at the water. Is that a speedboat coming into the harbor? I think it’s going to dock where we left our boat.” I whispered, not wanting to distract Gunnar.

  “You’re right.” Jerry walked closer to the edge of the cliff. “Shit. There are four men in the boat and they’re tying up next to our boat.” He glanced at Gunnar. “You know who it must be.”

  “Gretchen!” Gunnar had waited long enough. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes. Give me a minute. The ground is uneven and rocky. I finally found the bed. The cave is unstable. I think there’s been a rockslide.” Her voice was strained, like she might have hurt herself in there.

  “She has to come out now, Gunnar. I’m afraid Fredrick and his men just docked down below. They’ve followed us here.” Jerry grabbed Gunnar’s arm.

  “How is that possible?” Gunnar shrugged off Jerry’s hand. “We can’t stop now. If we leave this cave open someone else will come and finish what we started.” He pressed his face into the cave opening. “You must hurry, min söta.”

  “He’s right about the treasure, Jerry.” I kept my eyes on the men down below. I recognized Fredrick in the lead. They headed straight for the stairs and started up the ones marked with the directions to the museum. They would find the helpless guard. “I have to go get the guard. I don’t want him left to Fredrick’s mercy. You know he has none.”

  Jerry pulled out a knife. “You’re right, no one can find the guard like that. I’ll go.”

  “You can’t release the freeze. I have to do it.” I touched Gunnar’s back. “We’re going back to the museum. We have to free the guard. Meet us at the boat with Gretchen as soon as she’s done. Hurry!”

  “You’re sure it’s Fredrick?” He pulled out his sword. “How did he know where we would go?”

  “I don’t know. He could have used the GPS in Gretchen’s cell phone.” I gave up at Gunnar’s blank look. Of course the Viking had no idea what I was talking about. “Anyway, we can’t leave the guard exposed. When Gretchen comes out, take her phone out of her pocket and kill it with a rock. Understand?”


  “Kill a phone?” He shook his head. “No matter. Gretchen will know what to do. Go. We’ll meet you at the boat.” Gunnar leaned against the rock. “Gretchen, your bastard of a husband is here. We must go now. Forget the treasure.” He sounded resigned and my heart went out to him. “You are more valuable to me than all the gold in Sweden, älskling.”

  Jerry muttered something about the Viking having it bad then grabbed my hand. We ran toward the museum. I was determined that the guard wouldn’t be turned into collateral damage. When we got there, we could hear Fredrick and his men talking as they worked their way up the cliff stairs.

  “Why they hell would they come here? The Viking with her is crazy if he thinks anything he left here a thousand years ago would still be here.” Fredrick laughed and so did his men. He said something in Swedish and that got them really going. “I should give her a divorce and let her have him. She has no idea that I have been listening to them and their stupid love talk. The man is a throwback!”

  “But what if he does have a fortune, chief? Some say there is still gold to be found here. You know what one old gold Viking coin is worth these days?” This bodyguard was clearly an American hired gun.

  Jerry and I couldn’t stand around listening. It was horrifying to think that Fredrick must have planted some kind of bug in Gretchen’s cell phone or purse as well as tracking her movements. Whatever he’d done, he knew everything. No wonder it had been easy for him to follow us.

  I found the guard exactly where we’d left him and stared into his eyes. I gave him a quick case of amnesia, just for the past few hours, then thawed him out. After relieving him of his gun Jerry shoved him into a closet and locked him inside. We’d just taken care of this when we realized we weren’t alone.

  “Well, well, well. If it isn’t the two honeymooners. Where are your friends?” Fredrick strolled into the museum, looking very pleased with himself. His three guards aimed rifles at us.

  “I thought there were gun laws in Sweden.” I held onto Jerry, who was aiming the gun he’d taken from the guard at Fredrick.